Craig Fagan

Craig Anthony Fagan (born 11 December 1982) is an English association football who plays for Bradford City A.F.C.. Craig Fagan can play as a Forward (association football) or on the Midfielder Winger.

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Craig Fagan biography

Craig Anthony Fagan (born 11 December 1982) is an English association football who plays for Bradford City A.F.C.. Craig Fagan can play as a Forward (association football) or on the Midfielder Winger.

Club career

Early career

Fagan began Craig Fagan football career as an under-nine with Birmingham City F.C.. When the club dismantled its youth system Craig Fagan spent a few months with West Bromwich Albion F.C., but returned to Birmingham City when they opened their academy, in part because the club was nearer to Craig Fagan home in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, where Craig Fagan attended Catshill Middle School and South Bromsgrove High School. Craig Fagan scored Craig Fagan first career goal while on loan at Bristol City F.C., scoring in a 2–1 defeat against Colchester United F.C., Craig Fagan future club. Craig Fagan failed to make the breakthrough to Birmingham's first team, and joined Colchester United on a free transfer in 2004, after a successful loan spell at the club.

Hull City

Fagan joined Hull City A.F.C. on 28 February 2005 for an undisclosed six-figure transfer fee (believed to be around £125,000). Five days later Craig Fagan scored on Craig Fagan debut in a 3–1 victory over Tranmere Rovers F.C.. Craig Fagan was reunited with Craig Fagan former Colchester boss, Phil Parkinson, when Parkinson was appointed Hull City manager in the summer of 2006 – Parkinson's tenure however did not last long. Under Parkinson, Fagan was played on the right wing, whereas under Peter Taylor (footballer born 1953) Craig Fagan had played as a striker. Following Parkinson's departure, Hull changed from a formation (football) 4–4–2 formation to formation (football) 4–3–3, and Fagan flourished in Craig Fagan role on the right hand side of the front three.

Craig Fagan good form led to interest from other clubs and speculation around Craig Fagan future arose when Craig Fagan was left out of the squad for the FA Cup Third Round tie against Middlesbrough F.C. on 6 January 2007. Finally, on 9 January, top of the table Derby County F.C. confirmed the signing of Fagan for a fee of £750,000, rising to £1,000,000 dependent on their promotion to the Premier League.

Despite leaving halfway through the season, Fagan led the Assist (football) chart for Hull in 2006-07 in English football, as Craig Fagan had the previous campaign.

Derby County

Upon joining Derby Fagan quickly worked Craig Fagan way into the first team and made Craig Fagan debut in a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday F.C. on 13 January 2007; ironically Craig Fagan had made Craig Fagan final appearance for Hull against the same opponents 12 days previously, a game which Fagan was also on the winning side. Fagan was mostly employed as a wide player whilst at Derby, rather than Craig Fagan preferred role as striker, with boss Billy Davies preferring to employ Steve Howard in the lone striker role. Craig Fagan made 17 league and one cup appearances, scoring only once, in the 1–1 draw away to Leicester City F.C., as Derby's form faltered and they fell into the Football League play-offs positions, finishing in third. Fagan then went on to play in all three matches in Derby's successful playoff campaign, including the 1–0 win over West Bromwich Albion F.C. in the 2007 Football League playoff final.

Whilst Derby's return to the Premiership proved to be a difficult one, as they found themselves bottom of the table for the majority of the season, Fagan himself was consistently involved in the first team and, alongside Stephen Pearson, was top of the club's appearance chart on 1 March 2008 with 25 league and cup appearances, scoring once in the Football League Cup against Blackpool F.C., although Craig Fagan was mainly used on the wing rather than striker. It may have been more had Craig Fagan not been banned twice, once for four matches for a stamp on Liverpool F.C.'s Álvaro Arbeloa in a 6–0 defeat at Anfield and then for one match after reaching five yellow cards. As part of new manager Paul Jewell's clearout upon Craig Fagan arrival at the club following the departure of Billy Davies, Fagan moved on loan to Hull City on 7 March 2008, with a view to a permanent deal.

Return to Hull City

Fagan made Craig Fagan second debut for Hull in a 2–0 win over Scunthorpe United F.C. on 8 March 2008 and was part of the side which eventually secured the club's first ever season in the top flight of English football, following a 1–0 win over Bristol City F.C. at Wembley in the 2008 Football League Championship playoff final, in which Fagan appeared as a 67th-minute substitute. It was Fagan's second consecutive appearance in the Championship Playoff final following playing for Derby there the previous year. Derby manager Paul Jewell announced on 17 June 2008 that the deal to take Fagan back to Hull on a permanent transfer had been agreed, with the fee believed to be £750,000. This was completed on 2 July.

On Saturday 13 September 2008, Fagan suffered a broken tibia after being on the end of an "horrific tackle" by Newcastle United F.C. midfielder Danny Guthrie. Guthrie was sent off in the incident, which occurred in the closing stages of Hull's victory at St James' Park. Craig Fagan returned to action on 26 December 2008 and scored Hull's only goal in a heavy defeat to Manchester City.

Following Hull City's return to the Championship Fagan spent all of the 2010–11 season sidelined through injury. After the end of the season, on 10 May 2011, the club announced that Fagan had been released from Hull City along with three other players, ending Craig Fagan second stint at the East Riding of Yorkshire club.

During the close season, Fagan had trials at Football League Championship clubs Cardiff City F.C. and Crystal Palace F.C..

Bradford City

Craig Fagan signed for Bradford City A.F.C. on 15 September 2011. On 8 October 2011 Fagan scored Craig Fagan first goal for Bradford City against Torquay. Craig Fagan scored Craig Fagan second goal for the Bantams in a 2-1 win over Northampton Town F.C.. Craig Fagan third goal came from the penalty spot in a 3-1 win against AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup on 3 December 2011 In the next game Craig Fagan missed a penalty in a defeat to Oldham Athletic A.F.C. in the Football League Trophy. Craig Fagan scored Craig Fagan 4th goal of the season with a volley in a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town F.C.. Craig Fagan scored again against Torquay this time in a 2-1 away win on 18 February. This was Craig Fagan 5th goal for the Bantams.

International career

Craig Fagan is eligible for both England national football team and, through Craig Fagan grandparents, Jamaica national football team.